17 Ukumkani ke waphendula wenjenje:“URehum igosa eliphetheyo, uShimshayi unobhala, nawo onke amahlakani abo ahlala eSamariya naphi na kwelentshona ye-Efrati: Bhotani!“Ke
18 ileta eniyibhalileyo nasithumelela yona ifundiwe yaguqulwa nam ndisiva.
19 Ndilugunyazisile uphando, kwaza kwaphengululwa kwafumaniseka ukuba esi sixeko kwakudala sinembali yabavukeli-zikumkani – yindawo yovukelo nesiphithi-phithi.
20 EJerusalem kwakukho ookumkani abanamandla, belawula kwelentshona ye-Efrati, irhafu neminikelo nemirhumo ihlawulwa kubo.
21 Ngoko ke wisani umyalelo abo bantu bawuyeke loo msebenzi, ukuze eso sixeko singakhiwa de mna ndikuyalele oko.
22 Nize nincede ke ningawuyekeleli lo mcimbi. Ningathini ukuyiyeka ihambele phambili into eza kubeka ikomkhulu emngciphekweni?”
23 Ithe ke, isakufundwa loo leta yayivela kukumkani uAtashasta, uRehum noShimshayi unobhala namahlakani abo basuka ngoko nangoko baya kumaJuda eJerusalem, bafika bawanyanzela ngenkani ukuba awumise umsebenzi.